London Housing Foundation

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LHF Executive Chairman Awarded CBE
LHF Executive Chairman Awarded CBEJanuary 19, 2016 12:00 pmLondon Housing Foundation is pleased to be able to congratulate our Executive Chairman, Simon Dow, on the award of his CBE in the New Year’s Honours list. Simon, who until autumn last year was Group Chief Executive of the Guinness Partnership, received the award for “services to Housing and Homeless people”.Read More
Providence Row Catering Trainee Scheme: A blueprint for success, by Dom Gates
Providence Row Catering Trainee Scheme: A blueprint for success, by Dom GatesDecember 1, 2015 12:00 pmThe last year has been a big year for Providence Row. A few weeks ago our Catering Trainee Scheme scooped second place at the prestigious London Homelessness Awards, in memory of Andy Ludlow We’re over the moon to be receiving recognition for our innovative approach; an approach that we realised early on garnered strong, positive outcomes for our clients. Although the scheme focuses on food, I believe the heart of the success of the scheme is our investment in, and commitment to, positive risk-taking in a supportive environment. It was this risk taking that impressed the LHA judges. We offer a personalised service which takes into account the challenges of rough sleeping and/or living with substance misuse or mental health issues. FRead More
ASAP – the story of a London Homelessness Award winner
ASAP – the story of a London Homelessness Award winnerNovember 6, 2015 12:00 pmHere at the Asylum Support Appeals Project we were elated to win the top prize of the London Homelessness Awards: In memory of Andy Ludlow. Our project is unique, and we have worked hard to find innovative solutions to the ever changing situation that asylum seekers face. Our trustees, staff and volunteers have shown unprecedented levels of commitment to ensure that some of the most vulnerable people in our society today, can access a roof over their head and food to eat. We work with destitute asylum seekers, which to be completely frank; can often be an unpopular group of people in the UK. Their reputation muddied by false truths and often complete myths perpetuated by much of the press, and many politicians. So to get this positRead More
Does homelessness affect women more than men?
Does homelessness affect women more than men?October 22, 2015 12:00 pmThings that appear interesting can sometimes just confuse…. Homeless Link carried out research recently among 3000 people sleeping rough and found that women were more likely to use cocaine and heroin than men. (The Guardian reported the story in its inimitable style saying women were more likely to use heroine. Which I suppose is true? Later editions corrected this.) Their research showed that a third of homeless women reported having used heroin in the last month, compared with 28% of men, while 31% of women had taken cocaine or crack cocaine compared with 29% of men. They also found that more women use heroin-substitute methadone than men and there is greater use of other prescription drugs in females. The media coverage onRead More
Hovering Sleeping Pods for the Homeless?
Hovering Sleeping Pods for the Homeless?October 5, 2015 12:00 pmAt the LHF we encourage innovate, even quite unusual, ideas to help the homeless. We know that traditional methods work well and thousands of people have been helped off the street. But we also know that any industry needs to keep moving; keep innovating and trying out new ideas. Some of these ideas might fail, but that doesn’t mean they were wrong to try… So, we were fascinated to read about sleeping pods. These small constructions are designed to be fitted onto the side of existing buildings, and seem to almost float above street level. Cheap, clean and easy to put up, they could be the answer to getting people off the street. They are the idea of James Furzer, an architectural technician from the University of Greenwich. He haRead More
Evolve Housing and Support – Evolving our organisation
Evolve Housing and Support – Evolving our organisationSeptember 21, 2015 12:00 pmOn 7 September 2015 South London YMCA became Evolve Housing and Support. Chief Executive Jeremy Gray explains the changes. Why a name change and rebrand? For most of our 154 year history, our branding as a YMCA has worked well, but society - and the community needs we strive to meet - have changed enormously since our inception in 1861 as Croydon Young Men’s Christian Association. Having seen major growth and expansion over the last few years, we now work both north and south of the Thames with a rich diversity of customers including people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds. Last summer we consulted widely on our brand and name to ensure it truly represents our current work and values. The consultation confirmed it was time to Read More
The London Homelessness Awards: helping create jobs for young people in the Tech for Good industry
The London Homelessness Awards: helping create jobs for young people in the Tech for Good industryAugust 13, 2015 12:00 pmOver 83,000 young people in the UK rely on youth homelessness services for housing every year. Young people facing homelessness are a vulnerable group of people that are four times more likely to be Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) than their peers. With the mooted changes to housing benefit, the sector predicts that all this will just get worse: is there for an app for that?! Well no. But we are working on it – more on that below! At Centrepoint we believe that all young people deserve a home, a job and the skills to get there. The young people we see want to work; to build their skills and experiences and make something of their lives. We believe that everyone deserves a chance, and we support over 8400 young peopRead More
Handing over the aprons, by Dom Gates (Employment and Training Manager)
Handing over the aprons, by Dom Gates (Employment and Training Manager)August 7, 2015 12:00 pm“The London Homelessness Awards in memory of Andy Ludlow exist to recognise and celebrate innovative and sustainable projects that make a difference to homeless people. The Providence Row Catering Trainee Scheme has been shortlisted for the 2015 awards. We asked Dom, one of the workers at the scheme to tell us more about it, and why he thinks it is such a positive programme for people.” Handing over the aprons, by Dom Gates (Employment and Training Manager) When I first started working at Providence Row it was a very different place. Back then we were operating closer to the traditional soup kitchen model, serving breakfast to around 300 people every morning. They used to queue out of the door and around the block to get in. TheRead More